sound

Singing Bowl Benefits

The origin of singing bowls are unknown, but some historians believe they originated in either Nepal or India. “In Tibet they were largely used as a ceremonial instrument and initially as possible food bowls. It was not until the 1970s that singing bowls also became popular throughout the west when their many positive benefits were discovered.”*

Common names of singing bowls include Tibetan, Himalayan and crystal (made of crystal) singing bowls

How to Play Singing Bowls

Played singing bowls by holding them in the palm of your hand, sitting on a special pillow/donut or sitting on a ring.

Ancient Tibetan singing bowl

While holding the mallet low on the handle, firmly press it against the outside rim of the bowl and move the mallet in a slow circular clockwise motion. The circular motion works best if you use your arm as well as your wrist. Some signing bowls sing when the circular motion of the mallet contactsthe outside belly of the bowl.

Gently striking the bowl near the rim will also create a wonderful sound. Some people like to strike the bowl and then start the slow circular motion with the mallet. Practice different speeds to learn the speed that causes the sound to rise and grow to it’s fullest volume. If you hear a rattling sound, slow down and apply a consistent even pressure as you move the mallet around the rim.

Benefits of Singing Bowls*

Promote Deep Relaxation – While becoming conscious of your breathing as you play your singing bowl, the sound helps you relax and become calm.

Provide Pain Relief – “One of the available studies is a report from the Swiss journal Research in Complementary Medicine. For the study, 54 people with chronic pain originating from the spine were assigned to either six sessions of singing bowl therapy, a placebo treatment, or no treatment at all.

Study
results showed that members of the singing bowl group and the placebo
group experienced a significant decrease in pain intensity. The
study’s authors also found that both the singing bowl therapy and the
placebo therapy had a stress-reducing effect on participants.

Given these findings, the study’s authors concluded that singing bowl therapy’s effectiveness for pain relief could not be confirmed.”**

Reduce Stress and Anxiety – By listening to the pulsating tone of the singing bowl as you play it, your mind may become clear. You feel more at peace because the calming tones feel good and relaxing.

Balance the Chakras – The sound vibrations from the singing bowl naturally balance all the chakras and remove energy blocks. By balancing your chakras, it promotes healing and removes dis-ease in the body. When all your body cells and organs vibrate in harmony, your body returns to a healthy state.

Aid the Immune System
– It is believed that the sound vibrations stimulate our immune
system by improving the energy flow in our body.

Increase Mental Clarity – While playing a singing bowl, your brainwaves switch to the Theta frequencies, and your thoughts become clearer and better focused. These brainwaves also help you become more aware of your body/mind connection. Some people receive intuitive messages while playing their singing bowl.

Improve Circulation and Blood Flow – “A preliminary study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion in 2014 examined the benefits of starting a directed relaxation session with 12 minutes of singing bowls and found a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure and heart rate compared to silence before a directed relaxation session.”**

For centuries, many cultures used singing bowls during meditation and healing sessions. “’If we accept that sound is vibration and we know that vibration touches every part of our physical being, then we understand that sound is heard not only through our ears but through every cell in our bodies. One reason sound heals on a physical level is because it so deeply touches and transforms us on the emotional and spiritual planes. Sound can redress imbalances on every level of physiologic functioning and can play a positive role in the treatment of virtually any medical disorder.’